Sump pump switch



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1964 TQE llll INVENTOR MILL/HM L. EKEY H T TORNE Y5 Feb. 15, 1966 w, J, EKEY 3,234,881

SUMP PUMP SWITCH Filed March 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I G-3 60 i so rm m INVENTOR. FIGZ MILL/HM a. EKEY H TTORNE YS United States Patent Ohio Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. N 0. 353,791

" 2 Claims. ((31. 103-25) ,This invention relates to electric motor driven pumps, particularly sump pumps, and to a novel control arrangement therefor.

Electric motor driven pumps are known and sump pumps having electric motors directly connected to a pump unit are also known. Most sump pumps of this nature employ a float operated control switch for turning the motor on and off so that as water rises in a sump, the motor will run and cause the pump to pump the water out, and when the water level in the sump drops, the motor will be turned off and stop the pump. Float operated switches of this nature require linkage and moving members that are expensive and which are subject to becoming inoperative on account of accumulating sediment and debris from water delivered to the sump which is quite often soiled.

'Withthe foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved sump pump arrangement which overcomes the drawbacks referred to above in connection with the control switch for the drive motor of the pump and the actuating arrangementfor the switch.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an extremely compact sump pump arrangement and a control pressure switch in combination therewith. A still further object of this invention is the provision ofa compact sump pump arrangement and a controlling pressure switch directly connected therewith in which the pump-is small enough to be readily portable and requires only a power connection and a discharge connection to make it operative.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a novel combination of. an electric drive motor and a centrifugal drive unit constructed and arranged for use as a's ump'pump.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

5 FIGURE 1 is. a sectional'view showing a sump pump unit'according. to the present invention comprising pumping means .witha direct connected electric drive motor and a' control pressure switch carried by the motor;

' FIGURE 2 is a .view drawn at enlarged scale showing a particular feature of the present invention pertaining to the operation of the controlling pressure switch, and

. I FIGURE 3,is a perspective view partly'in section showing the construction of an auxiliary diaphragm pertaining to the pressure switch and forming'an important feature of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1 consists of an integral sump pump arrangement having pumping means, drive motor and control switch, all interconnected to form a single integrated assembly. The pumping means comprises a frame It extending over the face of a rotary impeller 12. Impeller 12 may be molded of plastic, for example, but could be metal if so desired. Frame 10, similarly, is preferably cast metal, but could be of a high strength plastic material if so desired. It will be noted that the open side or face of impeller 12 of FIGURE 1 is on top of frame that extends over the top or open side of impeller 12. Frame iii includes passage means 14 leading to the side of the impeller for supplying fiuid 3,234,381 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 thereto while the periphery of the impeller that is surrounded by a dependent flange 16 of frame 10' and through which flange 16 at least one discharge passage 18 is forme leading to a discharge port 20 formed in the upper side of frame It Port 20 is adapted for receiving a discharge conduit 22 to convey the pumped fluid away from the sump pump unit.

It Will be noted that frame it is advantageously open on the bottom for ease of manufacture and this lower open side of the frame is closed by a flat plate 24 held in place by cap screws 26.

Frame 10 has, in coaxial spaced relation to impeller 12 a cylindrical portion 28, the inside of which receives hub of an electric motor generally designated 32 and which includes a rotor 34 having a shaft 36 journalled on antifriction bearing 38 in the frame of the electric motor and extending downwardly from the electric motor and connected in supporting driving arrangement to impeller 12 by threads 40 on the extreme lower end of the shaft.

A set screw 42 in cylindrical portion 28 of the frame 10 fixes the frame of the motor to frame 10 of the pumping means.

The motor casing is of the sealed type so that it can [be immersed in water and to complete the sealing of the inside of the motor, there is a rotary seal 44- of a known I type surrounding shaft 36 and engaging the hub of impeller 12 at the lower end of the seal and the hub 30 of the motor frame at the upper end of the frame. By the provision of this seal the inside of the motor is completely isolated from water in which the pump unit may be placed. The water, however, will cool the motor by conduction. A handle member 46 carried by the top of the motor can be availed of for carrying the pump unit from place to place.

The aforementioned passage means 14 in frame 10 leading to the center of impeller 12 is relatively open, and to protect the pump from debris and the like which might be carried by the water being pumped, a screen member 48 is provided. The screen at its center engages the outside of a cylindrical portion 28 of frame 10 and is retained thereon by set screw 50. The outer periphery of screen member 48 which engages frame 10 outwardly from inlet passage means so that all water passing into the pump must pass through the apertures 52 of the screen and, thereby, foreign matter of a size that would damage the pump or interfere with the operation thereof is prevented from entering the pump.

An important part of the present invention recites the control means for the electric motor. This control means takes the form of a pressure switch 60 connected in circuit with a relay 62 and the windings of the electric motor and with the incoming electric power cable 64.

Closing of the switch will cause the motor to be energized while opening of the switch will bring about deenergization of the motor. Switch 60 and relay 62 are mounted in a housing 66 carried on the frame of the electric motor by a nipple 68 which is either sealed to the housing and to the motor frame, or which may be surrounded by a concealing sleeve 70 extending from the housing 66 to the motor frame.

The switch housing 66 sealing receives power cable 64 at the top through the seal arrangement 72 while at the bottom the housing has a shouldered opening in which pressure switch 60 is clamped by clamp ring 74. Clamp ring 74, in turn, is clamped into the open lower end of the housing by a clamp ring 76- held in place by cap screws 78. Seal ring effects a seal between the clamp rings 74 and 76 and the housing 66.

As will best be seen in FIGURE 2, clamp ring 76 also clamps a resilient auxiliary diaphragm 80 over the open lower end of the housing and in sealed engagement with ring 74. Diaphragm 80 has a central post 82 on the upper side thereof that extends to and engages the center of flexible diaphragm 84 forming a part of the pressure switch 60.

Pressure switch 60 is a more or less conventional pressure operated electric switch of the type employed in the control of the water level in washing machines and has a housing or frame part 86 in which the switch mechanism proper is mounted and within which the actuating diaphragm 84 is also mounted. When a switch of this nature is employed with washing machines or in other circumstances where the fluid to which the lower side of the diaphragm is clean, the switch will operate reliably for long periods of time. When a switch of this nature is used for controlling a sump pump however, the soil in the water quickly fouls up the exposed side of the diaphragm and operation of the switch can quickly be halted. Particularly small pieces of debris might get into housing 86 through the opening 88 therein and could prevent the switch from opening once 'it closed. Silt and other fine sediment'could also accumulate inside the housing beneath the diaphragm actuator and prevent proper operation thereof.

By the arrangement of the present invention, however, the auxiliary diaphragm 80 seals the switch away from the actuating fluid and no soil or particles of debris or the like have any access to the housing of the pressure switch or the diaphragm actuator therefor. It is believed instead a substantially flat surface, namely, the lower side of diaphragm 80 can easily be cleaned, and movement of which will not be interfered with in any way by any accumulation of silt or foreign particles or anything else conveyed in the water of the sump. Should deterioration of diaphragm 80 occur on account of exposure or abrasion or the like, it can readily be replaced without removing the pressure switch 60.

FIGURE 3 shows the construction of diaphragm 80 which consists of a disc of rubber-like material having a back up metal plate which is provided with holes 89 adjacent the periphery and through which the rubber-like material of the diaphragm flows when the diaphragm is manufactured so that the metal plate 87 is permanently connected to the diaphragm by the rubber-like ring 91 and the rubber-like posts extending between this ring and the diaphragm 80 through apertures 89.

A central aperture in metal plate 87 is adapted for receiving the split post 90 on the bottom of the post or plunger 82 so that this post or plunger can be molded separately and easily connected with the diaphragm at the time of assembling the pressure switch in its housing 66.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a flexible vent tube 94, nylon, for example, leading through cable 64 which will permit air to leave and enter the motor as the motor changes in temperature. In use, the plug of the cable is always plugged in with the end 95 of tube 94 pointing horizontally or downwardly so the tube will not become stopped up.

The described arrangement is relatively inexpensive, is compact, it eliminates all moving parts from the control switch, such as floats and rods and links, and relies instead upon a simple flexing diaphragm exposed on one 4 side to water in the region of the pumping means of the sump pump unit.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination; a sump pump comprising an electric motor having a completely sealed housing, pumping means attached to the motor and operated thereby, control switch means in circuit with said motor to control the energization thereof, a sealed casing containing said control switch means, tubular means mounting said casing on said housing and providing communication therebetween, an electric cable having one end sealingly connected to said casing and having connector means on the other end, wires extending through said cable for supplying energy to said motor via said switch means, and a tube extending through said cable having one end opening into said casing and the other end opening from the end of the cable remote from said casing to permit air to enter and leave the casing and housing.

2. In combination; a sump pump comprising an electrio motor having a completely sealed housing,'pumping means attached to the motor and operated thereby, control switch means in circuit with said motor to control the energization thereof, a sealed casing containing said control switch means, tubular means mounting said casing on said housing and providing communication therebetween, an electric cable having one end sealingly connected to said casing and having connector means on the other end, wires extending through said cable for supplying energy to said motor via said switch means, and a tube extending through said cable having one end opening into said casing and the other end opening from the end of the cable remote from said casing to permit air to enter and leave the casing and housing, said casing having an aperture therein and a diaphragm sealingly mounted in said aperture and operable for actuating said switch means in response to pressure variations on said diaphragm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,635,546 4/1953 Enyeart et a1 103-25 2,834,845 5/ 1958 Nielsen 103-25 2,862,452 12/1958 Lung 103-87 2,867,173 1/1959 Lung 103-87 2,910,003 10/1959 Kaatz 103-25 2,922,002 1/ 1960 Gilman 103-25 2,933,570 4/1960 Tutthill ZOO-83.1 3,002,064 9/ 1961 Nielsen 200-83 3,046,900 7/1962 Pollak 103-87 3,067,302 12/ 1962 Nielsen 103-25 3,070,021 12/1962 Tutthill 103-25 3,134,333 5/1964 Nielsen 103-87 3,176,095 3/1965 Conery 200-83 LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION; A SUMP PUMP COMPRISING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR HAVING A COMPLETELY SEALED HOUSING, PUMPING MEANS ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR AND OPERATED THEREBY, CONTROL SWITCH MEANS IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID MOTOR TO CONTROL THE ENERGIZATION THEREOF, A SEALED CASING CONTAINING SAID CONTROL SWITCH MEANS, TUBULAR MEANS MOUNTING SAID CASING ON SAID HOUSING AND PROVIDING COMMUNICATION THEREBETWEEN, AN ELECTRIC CABLE HAVING ONE END SEALINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID CASING AND HAVING CONNECTOR MEANS ON THE OTHER END, WIRES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CABLE FOR SUPPLYING ENERGY TO SAID MOTOR VIA SAID SWITCH MEANS, AND A TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CABLE HAVING ONE END OPENING INTO SAID CASING AND THE OTHER END OPENING FROM THE END OF THE CABLE REMOTE FROM SAID CASING TO PERMIT AIR TO ENTER AND LEAVE THE CASING AND HOUSING. 